Department of the Marine Corps

Following the Akashan War of Independence, Commanding General Walter Emerson ordered a comprehensive review of the performance of every aspect of every element of the AFA. During the review, Brigadier General Robert Gould Shaw pointed out deficiencies during a number of operations and proposed, as a solution, the creation of the Marine Corps of the Republic. Since that time, most modern militaries have set up or modified their marine corps along the lines of Shaw's model.

The Marine Corps is an autonomous department of the Army that operates and fights together with aerospace and ship elements of the Navy. While remaining organizationally separate, the two services train and work closely together under the command of the ranking officer, typically the Marine commander in MCTs and MEFs (see below) and the Naval commander in shipboard and installation assignments. As a result of this unique arrangement, marines maintain an identity distinct from the rest of the Army, and far friendlier relations with the Navy.

The Corps' offensive strength is built around Marine Combat Teams (MCTs), which usually consist of a division of marines, an air group, and dedicated naval and army support components. For larger operations, two to five MCTs are grouped together into a Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), which is treated as the Marine equivalent of a standard Army corps. Both MCTs and MEFs typically receive assignments directly from their Field Army, Task Force, or Theater Commander. As such, they can act either as an independant outfit or in coordination with other units.

A highly versatile combat force, marines are used in a wide variety of combat operations. Although no combat role it performs is unique, as the only contingent that consistently uses and coordinates land, sea, and aerospace elements, the Corps' ability to permanently maintain integrated multi-element combat forces under a single command gives it unparalleled operational flexibility. For the same reason, it also excels as a rapid deployment force, especially in time sensitive situations.